Apparatus for conveying, strand feeding and applying a reinforcing edging to a fabric material



NOV- 16, 1965 R. P. DOERER ETAL 3,217,754

APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING, STRAND FEEDING AND APPLYING A REINFORCINGEDGING TO A FABRIC MATERIAL Original Filed June 23, 1960 10 Sheets-Sheet1 56d l I 1 7o 6 3 4 INVENTORS R10/neo P Ooms@ NOV 16, W55 R. P.Dol-:RER ETAL 3,217,754

APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING, STRAND FEEDING AND APPLYING A REINFORCING.EDGING TO A FABRIC MATERIAL Original Filed June 23, 1960 f y l0Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR @1c/mp0 l? Dosen Aff/:M4N G. Gus/mme NOV 16,1965 R. P. DOERER ETAL 3,217,754

APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING. STRAND FEEDING AND APPLYING A REINFORCINGEDGING TO A FABRIC MATERIAL Original Filed June 23, 1960 10 Sheets-Sheet3 INVENToRs Flu/Ano Dome@ BY Hmm/v G. 60mn/fle arme/ws N0v 15, 1965 R.P. DOERER ETAL 3,217,754

APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING, STRAND FEEDING AND APPLYING A REINFORCINGEDGING T0 A FABRIC MATERIAL Original Filed June 23, 1960 lOSheelZS-Sheet 4 INVENTORS P/cf/A/eo P DoeRE/Q HERMAN G. Gue/vrHe/eATTORNEYS g BS; Mmm,

NOV- i5, 1965 R. nnoERl-:R ETAL 3,217,754

STRAND FEEDING AND APPLYING A REINFORCING EDGING TO A FABRIC MATERIALAPPARATUS FOR CONVEYING,

lO Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed June 25, 1960 INVENTORS R/CHARD PDomi/2 um A TTORNVS 'I NOV. 16, 1965 R. P. DOERER ETAL 3,217,754

APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING, STRAND FEEDING AND APPLYING A REINFORCINGEDGING TO A FABRIC MATERIAL Original Filed June 23, 1960 '3,0Sheets-Sheet 6 /96 434 INVENTORS 374 /P/c/Ana l? Doe/eek 570 BY HERMANG. GUE/VTM@ Nov. 16, 1965 R. P. DoERl-:R ETAL APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING.STRAND FEEDING AND APPLYING A REINFORCING EDGING TO A FABRIC MATERIALOriginal Filed June 25, 1960 l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 mmm wk. mm mmm RM v EH T.0 W v5 .QQ A www WPG. Mw

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Nov. 16, 5 R P DOE lR ETAL 3,217,754

G. APPLYING IAL PARATUS FOR coN'vEIN s AND FEEDING AND A REINFO NGEDGING To A FABRIC MATER Orlginal Fflled June 23, 19 10 Sheets-Sheet 8INVENTOR5 la7/cuneo P Doe/eel? HERMA/v G. Gum ma@ TTORNEY Nov 16 1965 R.P. DOERER ETAL 3,217,754

APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING, STRAND FEEDING AND APPLYING A REINFORCINGEDGING TO A FABRIC MATERIAL Original Filed June 25, 1960 l0 Sheets-Sheet9 d l INVENTORS l ICHARD l? DoERgR Hmmm G51/:Hrm

NOV 15, 1965 R. P. DOERER ETAL 3,217,754

APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING. STRAND FEEDING AND APPLYING l A REINFORCINGEDGING To A FABRIC MATERIAL Original Filed June 23, 1960 l0 Sheets-SheetlO IN VEN TORS Plc/mno P Dames By HERMA/v G. GueNn/Ek United StatesPatent O 17 Claims. (Cl. 14o-3) This application is a division of ourco-pending application Serial No. 38,402 filed June 23, 1960.

This invention relates generally to apparatus for making astrand-reinforced panel and refers more particularly to devices forinserting the reinforcing strands into the panel and for covering theends of the inserted strands.

Reinforced fabric panels of the type described herein are manufacturedby inserting into a web or panel of fabric material elongated strandspreferably in the form of wires to reinforce the material. A reinforcedpanel of this type may serve as an insulator between the overlyingpadding and underlying supporting spring structure of an upholsteredassembly, for example.

One object of the invention is to provide means for insertingreinforcing strands into the panel and for thereafter covering andshielding the ends of the inserted strands.

Another object is to provide means for folding the coverings over theopposite ends of the strands.

Another object is to provide coverings in the form of strips, and guideswhich gradually convert the strips from a at condition to a U-shaped,folded condition.

Another object is to provide guides formed with angularly relatedconnected anges folded closely together at their exit ends and graduallyflaring apart toward their entrant ends.

Another object is to provide means for advancing the strips insynchronism with the panel.

Another object is to provide means operated either between or duringintermittent advances of the panel for securing the folded strips to theopposite lateral edges of the panel.

Another object is to provide means for severing the strips after theyhave been secured to the panel.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a strand reinforced fabric panel adapted tobe formed by the apparatus shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1, with theleft hand portion of the panel enlarged.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view diagrammatically showing the apparatus forforming the strand reinforced panels of FIGURE 1, indicating also thepositions of various fabric panels as they are advanced through theapparatus.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the right hand portion of theapparatus shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the drive for the panel conveyor.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of portions of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 3,including the pleater structure.

FIGURE 7 is an elevational View of the structure shown in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 8 8 of FIGURE 6showing one of the knotting devices.

race

FIGURE 9 is an elevational View taken in the direction of the arrow 9 inFIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10-10 0f FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic view of certain operating components of thepleater structure in retracted position.

FIGURE 13 is a diagrammatic View similar to FIGURE 12, but showing thecomponents in an intermediate position.

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view showing the needle and strand structurebetween the pleater elements.

FIGURE l5 is a plan view of the portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE4.

FIGURE 16 is a sectional 16-16 of FIGURE 15.

FIGURE 17 is a sectional 17-1'7 of FIGURE 15 FIGURE 18 is a sectional18-18 of FIGURE 15 FIGURE 19 is a sectional 19-19 of FIGURE 15.

FIGURE 20 is a sectional 20-20 of FIGURE 15 FIGURE 21 is a perspectiveview showing the operations performed on a fabric panel by the apparatusin FIG. 3.

FIGURE 22 is a view of a stitching mechanism which may be employed inlieu of the stapling mechanism.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and especially toFIGURES 1 and 2, there is illustrated an insulator pad or panel 10comprising a length of burlap 12 having its edge portions extended overstrips 14. The strips 14 may be of paper or other suitable material andextend beyond the edges of the burlap and are turned onto the upper faceofthe burlap as shown at 16 in FIGURE 2. The turned edge portions 16 aresuitably secured to the burlap, for example by gluing, stapling orsewing. To reinforce the panel, a number of strands of wire 20 areprovided. Each wire 20 may if desired be undulatory or spiral inconfiguration as shown in FIGURES l and 2.

In order that the ends of the reinforcing strands 20 do not undulyproject from the surface of the burlap the reinforcing strands may beknotted at their ends as shown at 22 in FIGURE l. By utilizing strips 14as shown, the Wire knots are shielded so as not to form sharpprojections which might prove a safety hazardin handling of the panelsand which might undesirably lock adjacent panels together when they arestacked on one another.l

Several operations are performed to make the article shown in FIGURES 1and 2. Thus, the burlap is cut to size, the Strands 20 may be givenundulatory contigurations and are threaded through the burlap, the endportions of the wire strands may be knotted, the strips 14 are appliedto the burlap-strand assembly and folded over view taken on the lineview taken on the line view taken on the line view taken on the lineview taken on the line the edges thereof, and the entire assembly isadheredy matically gives the panel a pleated condition as shown Whilethe panel is still in a pleated condition, hollow pointed tubes orneedles 344 are passed transversely through the pleats in the arrow 345-direction. Immediately thereafter the rolls 142 and 146 are rotated todrive wire strands into the hollow needles. It will be noted that thewire strands are taken from supply reels 349 in straight condition.Undulations may if desired be formed in the strands by the mechanismgenerally designatedby numeral 101. FIGURE 21 shows only one needle andone wire strand, but it will be appreciated from a study of FIGURE 3that in actual practice a multiplicity of the needle-strand arrangementsare utilized.

It will -be 4appreciated that hollow tubes 344 act as guides to permitthe w-ire strands to be rapidly advanced into and through the panelpleats. When the strands have been advanced into the tubes (or whilethey are being advanced therein) the tubes are retracted from thepleats, leaving the strands embedded or extended within the pleats. Thestrands are then cut and may be knotted at both ends by .automaticmechanisms 367 and 369.

After the knotting operations the panel-strand assembly (w-ith the panelstill in a pleated condition) is advanced into position beneath rollersS10 which rotate about fixed aXes to iron out the panel pleats andreturn the panel to a flat condition.

The panel is then advanced through the space between two travelingstrips 14 which are taken from supply reels and folded about the fabricpanel edges by means of the folder structure 542.

The assembly is subsequently advanced over the adhe-ring mechanism shownin FIG. 21 as comprising the automatic stapling guns 634. The strips areat this time still in continuous form, and are therefore cut through atappropriate points by the automatic cutters 646.

As the last operation Ithe complete panel assembly is passed -onto thetrap doors 670 and 672, which automatically swing down at a preappointedtime to discharge the assembly into a shipping carton 694. When thecarton is filled with a certain number or weight of panels it isreplaced with an empty carton.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the burlap is supplied from a -reel 24 by asuitable feed roll, not shown, which is driven by any source of power.An idler roll 38 overlies and conceals the feed roll in FIGURE 3 andserves to maintain the burlap in driven engagement with the feed roll.The burlap moves through a trough 42 which serves as an accumulatorspace for maintaining a web supply for the cut-olf structure or knifegenerally indicated at 86.

The burlap -is fedfrom the bin by a rubber coated driver roll 46 and arubber 4coated idler roll 48. The arrangement is such that as rolls 46and 48 draw burlap 4from the trough, a switch is opera-ted to energizethe motor for the feed roll associated with idler roll 38 to replenishthe supply of burlap in the trough.

The driver roll 46 is operated intermittently to advance the burlap apredetermined distance 'beyond the cutter or knife 86. After eachintermittent advance of the continuous burlap web by the driver roll46', the knife is operated to sever a panel of burlap from the leadingend of the web, and the severed panel is deposited on and received bythe conveyor chains 70 which extend longitudinally of the apparatus inlaterally spaced relation, being trained over sprockets on the shaft 66adjacent the cutter and sprockets on the shaft 57 spaced from the shaft66 in the direction of advance of the fabric through the apparatus, orto the right as shown in FIGURES 3 and 2l.

The conveyor chains are driven so that their parallel top flights, whichlie in a common horizontal plane, move to the right as viewed in FIGURES3 and 2l. The chains 70 are synchronized with the driver roll 46 so thatthey advance the panels deposited thereon a distance equal to theadvance or feed of the web of burlap by driver roll 46, the intermittentoperation of the chains 70 occurring at the same time as theintermittent feed of the burlap by roll 46. Preferably the chains aree150 briey operated between intermittent operations of the web drivingroll 46 to advance the cut panel deposited thereon a predetermineddistance to provide the desired spacing between panels.

Referring to FIGURE 5, roll 46 is operatively driven from a gear 47which meshes with a rack 49. Power for operating the rack is derivedfrom a conventional fluid cylinder 51, preferably positioned at one sideof the machine as shown in FIGURE 5. When pressure fluid is admittedinto the right end o-f the cylinder 51 the rack is forced outwardly tothe cylinder so as to act on slip clutch 7S and gear 47 to drive thepressure roll 46 clockwise in FIGURE 5. This advances the burlap apredetermined distance through the pressure rolls. A small friction dragdevice 46a serves to prevent reverse movement of roll 46 duringretraction of rack 49 toward cylinder 51. The drag device may consist oftwo blocks engaging opposite surfaces of the roll shaft, a pair ofheaded pins extending from one block through the other block, andcompression springs surrounding the pins to urge the blocks toward oneanother so as to -f-rictionally grip the roll shaft. One of the blocksmay be fixedly mounted so as to provide the desired drag on the shaft.

During rotation of roll 46 the sprocket 58 is Totated to drive the chain66, a distance ycorresponding to the stroke of cylinder 51. Chain 60 inturn drives sprocket carried on the output portion of a conventionalslip clutch 64. The output for the clutch 64 is connected with a shaft66 carrying the sprockets 68. The sprockets 68 -cooperate with sprockets69 carried on a shaft '57 adjacent the downstream end of the machine foroperatively mounting the conveyor chains 70. The -chains 70 are of alength suicient to carry the burlap from the burlap panel cutter S6through a pleating station, needle insertion station, strand advancementstation, needle retraction station, strand knotting station, and 'burlapunpleating station. As each panel is moved by the chains 70 it initiallymoves into the pleater station 96, the function of which is to distortthe panel into a wave-like configuration as shown at 263 in FIGURE 21 topermit the wire strands 26 to be threaded therethrough.

Referring again to FIGURE 5, as the chain is moved by the stroke of rack49 the various sprockets 68 are rotated to advance the conveyor chains70 a predetermined distance, as for example 22 inches. During this timethe burlap supply from bin 42 is also being carried forward acorresponding distance (22 inches in the illustrative example) under thedrive of roll 46. At the end of the outward stroke of rack 49 the shearblade 86 is operated to cut through the 'burlap and thereby provide apanel 12a resting partly on the conveyor chains 70.

On the upstroke of shear :blade 86 (which is operated by a conventionalelectric motor) a limit switch is tripped to cause pressure fluid to bepumped into the right end of fluid cylinder 53. This cylinder has apiston rod 59 provided with a rack extension 61 meshing with a rack 63on the input side of a conventional slip clutch 65. The output fromclutch is connected with the shaft 66 which carries the varioussprockets `68, and accordingly as pressure fluid is delivered to theright end of cylinder 53 the rack 6l will cause sprockets 68 to berotated to advance the chains in the direction of arrow 73 by an amountcorresponding to the stroke of piston rod 59. During this advancingmovement, clutch 64 will slip so that no movement of roll 46 will occur.By this arrangement the conveyor chains 70 will serve to advance the cutpanel 12a relative to the burlap supply to thereby provide the desiredspacing `between individual panels on the conveyor. This spacing isdesirable in that it permits various subsequent operations to beperformed simultaneously on different panels, the overall effect :beingone of high-volurne low-cost production.

The cycle of movements involved in the burlap cutting spacing operationsbegins with energization of cylinder 51. In the illustrative example,the cylinder is energized to simultaneously advance roll 46 vand chains'7,6 a, distance of 22 inches to thereby advance the burlap supply pastthe upraised shear blade 86 and carry a previously cut panel 12b adistance of 22 inches long the path of the chains 70. On the reversestroke of rack 49 the slip clutch 75 and friction device 46a hold theroll 46 motionless. During or before this reverse stroke, the shear.blade 86 is energized to quickly descend and then raise again to cutthe panel 12a to a 22 inch length. On the upstroke of the shear blade,cylinder 53 is energized to advance rack 61 and thereby advance chains70 to shift the panels on the chains downstream a predetermined amount,as for example 8 inches. The rack 61 may then be reversed towardcylinder 53 without transmitting motion to either the sprockets 68 or toroll 46. The cycle is repeated -by again energizing cylinder S1 aspreviously described. The chains are provi-ded with suitable barbs 71 tomaintain the burlap in fixed positions.

In the illustrative example, the burlap panels are each cut to a 22 inchlength in the direction of conveyor travel, and the adjacent panels arespaced from one another l8 inches. The panel length and spacing may ofcourse be varied in accordance with different product sizes andoperational conditions by merely varying the strokes of cylinders 51 and53.

The illustrated arrangement is such that the fabric panels are eachformed of a predetermined length and with a predetermined spacing. Also,the leading edge of each panel occupies the same position irrespectiveof the adjusted panel length-spacing relationship. This leading edgeposition is of advantage in that it allows the panels to be properlypositioned with respect to the strand-feeding mechanisms to be describedhereinafter.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the wire strands are supplied from suitable reels98, there bein-g one reel for each strand to be threaded into the panel.The illustrated machine is designed to simultaneously thread eighteenwire strands into the panel and there are therefore eighteen supplyreels 98 for the individual strands. Each strand as it cornes from itsreel is straight and may be given an undulatory or spiral lshape ybeforebeing threaded through the panel. The mechanism for giving each wirestrand its spiral coniiguration is diagram-matically illustrated inFIGURES 3 and 21 at 101.

Referring to FIGURES 7 and 2l, the fixed housing structure 100 carriesthe wire feed mechanism. Each wire is fed from its reel through theundulating device 101 and into the pleated fabric :by the cooperatingdiscs 142 and l146, the wire being gripped between the peripheries ofthe discs. In FIGURE 2l, only one pair of discs 142 and 146 for eachwire is shown, but preferably two pairs of such discs are provided, asshown in FIGURE 7. A fluid cylinder 150 has a piston rod 152 providedwith a rack 154 meshed with gear 156. By a series of distancemultiplying gears 158 through 164, a multiplied movement is transmittedto chain 166. Chain 166 drives a shaft which carries a series of gears170 y(18 in the illustrated embodiment), the arrangement being such thateach gear 170 meshes with the geared portions of the discs l146 to drivethem clockwise (in FIG. 7). The discs 146 are respectively geared to thediscs 142 so that as a result the individual wire strands are fed fromtheir respective reels through the undulatory device 101 and into thepleated panel. Suitable one-way clutch means is located in the drivefrom rack 154 and chain 166 such that reverse movement of the rack willnot reverse rotate the discs 142 and 146.

The cylinder 150 is operated to intermittently feed the eighteen wirestrands simultaneously from their respective reels. After each feedingmovement of the wire strands, the bar 141 extending across the wirestrands descends by gravity and pulls a fresh supply of wire from thereels 98. If the wire on any reel :becomes tangled so that it will notreadily pull from the reel, that particular strand will remain taut andwill prevent the gravitational descent of the bar 141.l The bar l141 isconnected with a suitable 6 safety shut-off mechanism 131, thearrangement being such that failure of the bar 141 to descend at thedictated time will halt the cycle. The attendant may then take care ofany entanglements.

The undulating device 101 is provided to impart a spiral configurationto the wires, and is fully described in our co-pending application,Serial No. 38,402.

Referring to FIGURES 6 and 7, it will be seen that after the individualwire strands have been fed through the device 101, they are forced intoa pleater station 96 which operates to form and maintain the burlappanel in a pleated condition durin-g insertion of the wire strands.

The pleater operation may :best be visualized by referring to schematicillustrations in FIGURES 12 and 13. As shown in FIGURE l2, the burlappanel 12C is supported on the conveyor chains 70. Disposed beneath andbetween the various chains 70 are the elongated lower pleater elementsor bars 284 which are each of a length corresponding to the cut lengthof the panel (that is the dimension in the direction of arrow 87 inFIGURE 21) plus an appropriate factor or margin. The various pleaterbars 284 are carried on an elevator 288, and when the elevator is raisedfrom its FIGURE l2 portion to its FIG- URE 13 position the variouspleater bars 284 are projected upwardly between the chains 70 so as tolift the burlap panel from the chains as shown in FIGURE 13. In itsFIGURE 13 position the panel is located very closely adjacent to thelower edges of an upper set of pleater bars 262. There are provided acenter pleater bar, designated by numeral 276, and additional pleaterbar-s on both sides thereof. The pleater bars at the left of centerpleater bar 276, as well as center pleater bar 276, are notched at theirIupper edges to form cam surfaces 390 for causing the bars to be cammeddownwardly by leftward movement of the overlying cam bar 271. Thepleater bars at the right of center pleater bar 276, as well as centerpleater bar 276, are suitably notched at their upper edges to form camsurfaces 391 for causing the bars to be cammed downwardly :by rightwardmovement of cam bar 274. The cam bars 271 and 274 are shown retracted inFIGURES 12 and 13, and the pleater bars over which they extend whenretracted are suitably notched to clear the cam bars. Suitable springmeans, not shown, are provided to retract the upper set of pleaterelements 262 to the FIGURE l2 position when the cam bars are retractedas illustrated.

In the preferred operation the cam members or bars 271 and 274 are movedsimultaneously in opposite directions so as to cross one another andsequentially depress the various pleater bars in the upper set of bars,beginning from the center pleater bar 276 and continuing laterallyoutwardly with depressions of successive bars on both sides of thecenter pleater bar. The arrangement is such that initially the centerpleater bar 276 is depressed downwardly so as to cooperate with thesubjacent pleater bars to tightly grip the center area of the burlappanel. Therefore, as the other pleater bars come down successively thepanel will maintain its position relative to the longitudinal centerline of the machine Ysuch that very little lateral bodily shifting ofthe panel will occur. Since the outermost pleater bars will not comedown until the innermost pleater bars have been depressed there will heno excessive strain placed on the burlap such as might tear or deformthe burlap fibers.

FIGURE 6 provides an elevational view of the pleater station which, aswill be seen, comprises two ribbed beams 107 and 109 supported at theirends by pillars 111. A bridge structure 113 extends across the spacebetween beams 107 and 109 to rigidify them and provide a support forhousing 115. Cylinder 216 has a rod 218 which extends into housing 115to operate cam bars 271 and 274 by suitable mechanism not shown.

The foregoing brief description provides a general outline of the modeof operation of the panel pleating structure. For a more detaileddescription reference is made to applicants co-pending parentapplication, Serial No. 38,402.

It will be noted from FIGURE 14 that the lower edge portion of eachpleater element 262 is provided with a series of slots 300. In theillustrated mechanism each of the pleater elements 262 is provided witheighteen slots corresponding in number to the number of wire strands tobe inserted through the fabric pleats. Each of the pleater elements inthe lower set of pleater elements 284 is provided with a correspondingnumber of slots 302 in its upper edge, the arrangement being such thatwhen the pleaters are in their FIGURE 14 positions a series of eighteenpassages is formed through the pleater element assembly.

The purpose of these passages is to permit hollow needle structures tobe driven through the fabric pleats, said needle structures serving asguides for subsequent insertion of the spiral wire strands previouslydescribed.

Power for the needle insertion operation is derived from a fluidcylinder 306 shown in FIGURE 7. The piston rod for cylinder 306 carriesa rack 308 which meshes with a gear 310 carried by the shaft of a largergear 312. Gear 312 in turn meshes with a gear 314 carried by the shaftof a relatively large gear 316 which meshes with the gear 320 carried onthe shaft of a larger gear 318. The gear 318 meshes with a rack 326which is connected at one end to a crosshead 330 slidably supported onfixed guide rods 334. The crosshead 330 carries eighteen hollow needles344, the arrangement being such that energization of cylinder 306 iseffective to move rack 326 to the left as viewed in FIGURE 7 to therebycarry the needles 344 through the pleater elements and pleated fabricpanel as shown in FIGURE 14. The slots 300 and 302 in the adjacent edgesof the pleater elements 262 and 284 line up transversely of the machinewhen the pleater elements are moved toward each other as shown in FIGURE14 to provide elongated passages adapted to receive the respectiveneedles. The needles are actually hollow tubes and are inserted throughthe pleated fabric prior to insertion of the wires to serve as guidesand prevent deflection or jamming of the wires during insertion of thelatter.

The leading edge of each needle is sharply pointed as at 360, with theedge portion 362 tapering back at a small angle to form a pointed endoperative to easily penetrate the burlap panel during high speedinsertion of the needle. When the needles are located within the pleaterelements as shown in FIGURE 14, the cylinder 150 (FIGS. 6 and 7) isenergized to feed the wire strands through the spiralling mechanism andinto the hollow needles to the FIGURE 14 position. The hollow needlesprotect the wire strands during insertion so they will not interferewith the burlap threads.

It is contemplated that the insertion of the needles will be completedbefore introduction of the wires into the pointed ends of the needles.However, the needles may retract during the advance of the wires, themost important aim being to have at least the ends of the wire strandswithin the needles as the strands are fed through the pleats. However,the needles may remain in the extended position within the pleaterstation during the entire strand advancing operation.

After insertion of the wire strands into the extended hollow needles,the hollow needles are withdrawn to leave the strands threaded throughthe pleats of the fabric panel. The wire strands will then be severedand knotted at both ends. Preferably, the strand knotting operation isperformed at the conclusion of the strand insertion operation while thefabric is in a pleated condition. The left hand knotter mechanism isshown at 367 and the right hand knotter at 369.

Referring to FIGURE 1, it will be noted that the ends of the wirestrands in the finished article are curled around or knotted. The strandknotting operation is preferably performed at the conclusion of thestrand insertion operation while the fabric is in a pleated condition(FIG. 14). The leftmost knotter mechanism is 367 as shown in FIGURES8-10, and the rightmost knotter 369 is shown in FIGURE 11. The positionsof these knotter mechanisms with respect to the other apparatus is bestshown in FIGURES 6 and 7.

Referring to FIGURE 8, the leftmost knotter comprises an elongated bedplate 371 having a series of spaced blocks 379 secured thereon to defineeighteen separate grooves 373, the arrangement being such that one ofthe strands 20 travels through each groove in the direction of the arrowB during the strand insertion operation. The mechanism is shown inFIGURE 8 with the parts thereof in the positions they occupy during theknotting operation, and the space through which the strand travelsduring the strand insertion operation is therefore restricted by theknotter mechanisms.

Power for the knotting operation is derived from three sources. Thus,referring to FIGURES 6 and 7 there is provided a fluid cylinder 368carried on a bracket-forming extension 370 of the elevator 288. Thepiston rod for cylinder 368 is connected with eighteen parallel plungers372 (FIGS. 7 and 8) by means of a crosshead 377 so that energization ofcylinder 368 is effective to move the plungers upwardly towards the bedplate 371 to the FIGURE 8 position. Each plunger 372 carries a pin-likemandrel element 374 which projects upwardly above the hed surface 366 toform a mandrel surface for bending of the wire strand. therearoundduring the knotting operation. Each plunger also carries a pin 375 whichfunctions as a back-up device for the wire strand during the knottingoperation.

In order to bend the wire strands around mandrels 374 there is provideda pin-like bending element 376 carried on a rotary head 378. Bearingsare provided at 380 and 382 for rotatably supporting the head 378 in acarrier structure generally indicated by numeral 384. Power for rotationof the head 378 is derived from a duid cylinder 385 and rack 386. Thedrive from rack 386 comprises a gear 388 carried on shaft 390, a secondgear 392 carried on shaft 390 and a rack 394 meshed with gear 392. Thevertical face 396 of rack 394 is provided with a slot 398 which receivesan extension 400 of a relatively long rack 402. It will be noted fromFIGURE 9 that rack 386 is of a relatively short length. However, ther-ack 402 is long enough to span the entire bank of knotter heads 378,w-ith the teeth thereof engaging the gear portions 406 of the individualheads 378 as shown in FIGURE 8.

It will be appreciated that movement of rack 386 (by cylinder 383) inone direction is effective to rotate all of the knotter heads 378 in onedirection for effecting a strand knotting operation. Reverse movement ofthe rack 386 is effective to return the heads 378 to their initialpositions.

Between successive knotting operations the carrier 384 is retractedupwardly away from the bed surface 366 by means of the fluid cylinder408. Cylinder 408 is mounted atop a bridge structure 410 located lon anelongated housing 409. As will be seen from FIGURE 6, housing 409 ismounted at its opposite ends on the beams 107 and 109. The piston rod412 for cylinder 408 is connected with a crosshead 414 which carries thetwo depending rods 416 at its opposite ends. The lower end portions ofthese rods are anchored to the carried 384 by means lof cross pins 4It8.The arrangement is such that pumping of fluid into the lower end ofcylinder 408 is effective to raise the carrier 384 upwardly from bedsurface 366 to permit passage of the wire strands over the bed surfaceand into the pleater elements.

After each pleater Ioperation pressure4 uid is pumped into the upper endof cylinder 408 to quickly lower carrier 384 toward surface 366. As thecarrier nears surface 366 cutter 210 slices through the wire strand tocut off the length thereof to the right of the cutter. During the cutoffoperation the clamp structure 420 is effective to grip the wire andretain it in proper position for ensuring a clean cut at the desiredlocation therealong. Clamp structure 420 comprises a series of spacedlinger members 422 projecting downwardly from the carrier 384, the spacebetween adjacent fingers being occupied by strand gripping elements 424,and the various strand gripping e-lements being pivotally mounted bymeans of a pin 426 extending through linger members 422. It will beunderstood that in a construction having eighteen wire strand feedersthere will also be employed eighteen wire gripper elements 424.

Each of the wire gripper elements is individually biased in a downwarddirection by means of a compression spring 428, said spring operating onthe gripper element via a hollow plunger 430. The operation is such thatas the carrier 384 is lowered its pivotally mounted gripper elements 424strike the wire strands and compress the springs 428 to thereby providea tight grip on the strands irrespective of any slight variation invertical dimension of the Various gripper elements spacing of bedsurface 366 from the carrier, or variation in strand thickness.

It will be noted that the tip of cutter 210 is located slightly belowthe lower face 432 of the knotter head 378. Face 432 acts as a presserelement to cooperate with the upper face of the xed bushing 434 inironing .out a short portion of the wire strand from its spiralconfiguration, the purpose being to prevent an intermediate Portion ofthe wire strand from interfering with its extreme end portion during theknotting operation. In this connection the major diameter of the spiralstrand convolution is in an illustrative case in the neighborhood lofone-quarter inch and the diameter of the wire is in the neighborhood of.O40 inch. The movement of the carrier is preferably such as to `leave aclearance of about .050 inch between face 432 and the upper face ofbushing 434.

When rack 386 is moved to rotate the heads 378 the resultant rotation ofe-ach bending element 376 is such that a wire end portion adjacentcutter 210 is curled around the mandrel 374 and depressed into theannular opening 436 as the pin 376 nears the end of its rotary movement.Pin 376 is shown in FIGURE 8 adjacent the end of its movement. Itinitially takes a position spaced Iabout one hundred eighty radialdegrees from the FIGURE 8 position, so that it acts as a bending elementfor the end portion of the wire strand. During the nal stage of thebending movement the end portion of the wire may cam against theregistering wire portion to be deflected into the recess 436 so as toachieve the cross condition shown in FIGURE 1.

The complete sequence of movements in operation of the FIGURE 8 knotterstructure is as follows. With the carrier 384 in a raised position, atconclusion of the strand feeding operation the cylinder 408 is energizedto quickly lower the carrier 384 and cut off the wire strand.Simultaneously with lowering of the carrier 384 the plungers 372 arepowered upwardly by cylinder 368 so that the mandrel 374 is guided intothe central opening 440 in each head 378. Rack 386 is then powered torotate the various knotter heads 378 for causing the bending elements376 to be rotated around the mandrels 374 to effect the knottingoperations. Carrier 384 and plunger 372 are then powered apart toseparate or strip the elements 374 and 376 from the knot. Elevator 288(FIGURE 7) is then lowered to lower the lower set of pleater elements sothat the fabric-wire strand assembly is deposited onto the conveyorchains 70 for carryover to the next operating station.

The right knotter structure 369 shown in FIGURE l1 is similar to theleft knotter in many respects, and similar reference numerals aretherefore employed wherever applicable. In the FIGURE 11 construction Iafluid cylinder 442 is mounted on .a xed `support structure 444 with itspiston rod 446 connected with a crosshead 448, said crosshead carrying adepending connector rod 450 which is linked at 452 to a pair of levers454. The linkage 452 preferably comprises an elongated shaft 456extending between the two levers 454, said levers being preferably lo-Cil cated at opposite end portions of the knotter apparatus and beingfulcrumed on an e-longated shaft 460 carried by support structure 444.The two levers 454 are linked to an elongated shaft 462 which carries abank of reciprocable plungers 372, each of the plungers carrying amandrel and back-up pin similar to the corresponding elements of theFIGURE 8 structure. Each of the mandrels cooperates with a rotaryknotter head 378 similar to the corresponding' head in the FIGURE 8construction. The various knotter heads are rotatably supported in acarrier 464 which is slidably mounted on face 445 of support structure444. Carrier 464 is supported at its ends by the two rods 466 whichdepend fnom crossheads 448.

In operation of the FIGURE l1 construction, energization of the fluidcylinder 442 is effective to move rod 450 upwardly for downwardretraction of the plungers 372; simultaneously the carrier 464 is drawnupwardly by the rods 466 to free the right end area of the fabric-wirestrand article for movement by the conveyor chains 70. After apredetermined movement of the conveyor chains the cylinder 292 isenergized to raise elevator 288. Thereafter piston rod 446 is powereddownwardly to bring elements 378 and 372 together, and rack 386 ispowered to effect a knotting operati-on of pin 376.

During the knotting operations the fabric panel is held in a pleatedcondition with the needles of course withdrawn. The wire strands 28frictionally engage the burlap fibers and tend to hold the pleated formof the panel. Accordingly, after the inserted wire strands have beenknotted, the fluid cylinder 216 is operated to allow the upper pleaterelements to return to the position of FIG- URES 12 and 13, the cylinder292 is operated to lower the elevator 288 carrying the lower pleaterelements to the position of FIGURE 12, and the strand reinforced panelis moved to a flattening or unpleating station which has therubber-coated rolls 510. The panel is carried from the pleated to theunpleating station by the conveyor chains 70 during subsequentintermittent operation thereof. The rolls 510 flatten the pleated panelso that it assumes substantially t-he configuration shown in FIGURE 2.The flattening station is more fully described in our co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 38,402.

By reference to FIGURE 17, it will be seen that strips, which may bepaper for example, for protecting the edges of the burlap-wire strandassembly are taken from a supply roll 540. In its supplied condition itis in the form of .a dat web, and before it can be completely secured tothe edges of the burlap-wire strand assembly it rnust be folded so as tohave a wrap-around relationship with respect to the burlap lateraledges. There is thus provided the folder mechanism indicated generallyby numeral 542 in FIGURE 15.

Prior to introduction of the strip 14 into the folder mechanism, it maybe passed through an adhesive-applying station 544, best shown in FIGURE17. As shown in the drawings said station comprises a conventionalgluepot 546 having a relatively large smooth-surfaced roll 548 locatedto dip into a body of liquid glue 550 in the gluepot. Power for drawingthe strip 14 over the roll 548 is derived from a heavy rubber roller 552which is adapted to be driven from the previously mentioned conveyorchains 70. By this arrangement the burlap travel and strip 14 travel arecorrelated with respect to one another such as to prevent any bucklingof or strain on the strip.

Referring again to the adhesive station 544 (FIGURE 17), the strip 14 ismaintained in engagement with roll 548 by the idler rolls 554, 556 and558. The strip is turned from a generally horizontal plane into agenerally vertical plane by means of the vertical guide roll 560. As thestrip emerges from the guide roll 560 it takes a right angle turn andenters into the folder structure 542.

The folder structure 542 is in the form of guides adjacent the oppositelateral edges of the panels. At their entrant ends, or upstream ends,the guides are in the form l l of vertical flat plates as shown inFIGURE 17, having the inturned flanges 562 above and below the edges ofthe panel. The guides at their exit or downstream ends are substantiallyU-shaped, as shown in FIGURE 19, with the flanges of the U closetogether and substantially parallel and embracing opposite sides of theedge portions of the panel. The guides flare gradually from their exitends toward their entrant ends so that the U-shape formed thereby'gradually opens toward the entrant end, as will be apparent from aconsideration of FIGURES 17-19.

By reference to the three sectional views, FIGURES 17, 18 and 19, itwill be seen that during travel of the strip I4 through the folder it isprogressively converted from a substantially flat configuration (FIG.17) to a V- shaped configuration (FIG. 19). The folder is provided withthe inturned flanges at 562 to guide the strip and prevent it from inany way losing contact with the folder.

As each strip emerges from its folder it wraps about the lateral edge ofthe burlap panel and thence travels with the burlap to a positionoverlying a fixed block 564 (FIG. 16). Block 564 mounts a series ofautomatic airoperated stapling guns 634, each being provided with an airpressure line 635 for automatic operation at the desired point in thesequence (i.e. when the burlap assembly is motionless).

Cooperating with block 564 is a second movable block 566 which is movedto a clamping position on the strip by means of the fluid cylinder 568.Suitable links are provided at 570 to guide block 566 in its movement.It will be understood that block 566 acts as an anvil to clinch thestaples driven upwardly from t-he stapling guns 634. The use of staplingguns is as previously noted optional to the aforementioned use of sewingand gluing. For many applications the use of sewing produces the mostsatisfactory product. The sewing can be carried out with conventionalsewing machine heads such as shown in FIGURE 22.

In the illustrated embodiment the strip 114 is afxed to each edge of theburlap while it is in the form of a continuous web. It thus becomesnecessary to sever the strip before discharge of the panel assembly fromthe machine. For this purpose there is provided an air cylinder 640having a pivotal mounting at 642 and having a piston rod 644 connectedwith a pair of crank arms 645 by means of a cross pin 648. The cranks645 are fulcrumed as a unit on a fixed shaft 650, so that introductionof pressure uid into the lower end of cylinder 640 is effective to movethe cranks 645 in a clockwise direction (FIGURE 20). Each of the crankscarries a cutter bar 646 which during clockwise motion of the cranksslices through the subjacent strip. The cutter bars are suitably mountedand adjusted so that their operative edges are spaced the desireddistance (eight inches in the illustrated embodiment) such that thestrip is severed at a point coincident with the corresponding front orrear edge of the burlap panel. Different panel dimensions will of coursenecessitate different adjustments of the cutter bars.

After cutting of the strip material it is preferred to immediatelydischarge the panel assembly from the machine, and one desirablemechanism for accomplishing this purpose is shown in FIGURE 4. The mostadvantageous direction of discharge for the panel is downwardly into itsshipping carton, and accordingly it is not desired to support the panelsfrom subjacent conveyors such as the conveyor chains 70 during thedischarge operation, since such conveyor chains would be in the desiredpath of discharge.

To effect the discharge operations there may be provided the overheadconveyor mechanism defined by the rubber belts 666. As shown in FIGURES4 and 15, these belts are trained around pulleys 662 and 664. Pulleys664 are located on the same shaft as the aforementioned pressure roller552, wihch is driven from the conveyor chains 70. Thus the conveyorchains provide operative power for the belts 666 such as to synchronizethe move- 'l2 ment of the various panels throughout their travel in themachine and permit t-he panels to be discharged in an orderly sequence.

In the illustrated arrangement the discharge mechanism comprises a pairof trap doors 670 and 672 fulcrumed respectively on the pivot shafts 674and 673.

These trap doors extend entirely across the lateral dimension of thefabric panels and are retained in their FIGURE 4 positions by means ofthe fluid cylinders 678. However, when a panel has been shifted intoposition on the trap door as shown at 121 in FIGURE 4, pressure uid maybe pumped into the upper end of each cylinder 678 to retract the pistonrods 680 into the cylinders for thereby swinging the trap doorsdownwardly about their pivot shafts in such manner as to cause thefabric panel to drop through the open space formed between theswung-down doors.

As will be seen from the drawings, the space below the trap doors isoccupied by a platform or framework 696 having the idler rolls 692journaled thereon. The arrangement is such that an open topped box orshipping carton 694 of cardboard or the like may be manually orotherwise slid onto the rollers 692 to a position for reception of thepanels as they are sequentially dropped through the trap doors. Suitablecounter mechanism may be employed to notify the attendant when a desirednumber of panels have been deposited into the shipping boxes. If desiredthe device may be given an automation character by employing mechanismfor stopping the machine after the desired number of panels have beendeposited in the box or by energizing a power device for shifting thebox off of the platform 690 and replacing it with another empty box. Thedegree of automation will of course depend on such factors as volume ofproduction, cost of product, and particular facilities of themanufacturer.

During the previous description the invention has for the most part beendescribed with reference to the use of stapling and gluing as the meansfor securing the edging onto the lateral edges of the fabric panels. Itis herein noted, however, that other means of attachment can beemployed. For example, if desired the edging can be secured to thefabric panel through the use of the sewing machine stitchers or headsshown in FIG- URE 22. FIGURE 22 is taken in the same general directionas FIGURE 16, and it will be understood that the sewing machine head 570there shown may be employed in the same general location as thepreviously described stapling guns 634.

As with the previously described arrangement, the edging may be fed fromsupply roll 540 into the folder structure 542 to cause it to be wrappedaround the lateral edges of the burlap panel 12g.

The sewing machine head 570 is arranged downstream of the folder 542,and as the burlap panel 12g is conveyed by the chains 70 the sewingmachine needle 572 is vertically reciprocated to stitch the edging tothe burlap fabric.

The use of stitching as opposed to stapling provides a more extensivelocking of the strips 14 to the burlap, and therefore the previouslydescribed gluing operation can in many cases be eliminted. In thisconnection it will be noted from FIGURE 22 that the illustrated supplyroll 54d introduces the strip 14 directly into the folder 542 withoutfirst traversing a gluing station such as is employed in the FIGURE 17illustration.

It will be understood that during the periods that the burlap panels aremotionless (Le. when the conveyor chains 70 are stopped) it is notdesired to operate the sewing machine heads 570. Thus, each of thesewing machine heads is preferably operated in direct synchronism withthe conveyor chains 70, and for this purpose there is provided a chaindrive 574 powered in any suitable manner from the conveyor chains 70.The power can be taken at any desired point from the conveyor chains 70,but as an example, the drive chain 574 could be driven from a sprocketcarried on the previously described shaft 57 (FIGURES 4, 5, and 15). Itwill be understood that chain 574 is trained around a sprocket carriedon the shaft 578 which extends from sewing machine head 570 (FIG. 22).The shaft 578 is of course suitably connected with the head 570 in amanner to provide the desired reciprocation of needle 572 for performingthe desired stitching operations. It will be understood that by thedescribed arrangement the operation of sewing machine head 570 iseconomically synchronized with the operation of chains 70 so as toprovide the desired stitch pattern without any jamming of the sewingmachine.

The apparatus illustrated and described herein is operated so as to cutthe fabric panels to lengths before pleating, insertion of thereinforcing strands and application of the covering strips 14 to theopposite edges of the panel. However, the panels could be cut to lengthafter sertion of the strands and application of the strips 14. The shearblade 86 can be placed at the downstream end of the machine so that thesevering of the individual panels occurs only after all of the otheroperations, pleating, strand insertion, unpleating, application ofstrips 14, etc., have been completed. Apparatus as thus modified, inwhich the panels are severed after the last operation, is described inour co-pending application Serial No. 38,402. Accordingly, the piece ofmaterial into which the strands are inserted and upon which the coveringstrips 14 are applied may be either the individual panels or thecontinuous web before it is severed into panels. Stated another way, thepanels into which the strands are inserted and the strips 14 are appliedmay be either separate members already severed from the continuous web,or they may be unsevered and still an integral part of the web. When inaccordance with the modification in which the panels are severed as thevery last operation, the fabric material will be advanced in continuousform from the unpleating station which may have the mechanisms 542therein for folding the edging material around the fabric edges as shownin FIGURES l7-19. Adhering of the edging or strip material 14 to thefabric may be effected by various means, as for example by gluingmechanisms, stapling mechanisms and/or sewing mecha nisms as heretoforedescribed. Whether the panels are severed before pleating, illustratedand described, or as the final operation, the operation of the mechanismfor folding the edging material around the fabric edges and for securingthe same thereto will be substantially the same.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. Apparatus for making a strand-reinforced piece of material having aprotective covering over the ends of the strands, comprising means forconveying a piece of material along a predetermined path, means at apoint along said path for inserting reinforcing strands into the pieceof material in a direction transversely of -said path, means spaced fromsaid strand inserting means in the direction of movement of the materialfor applying protective covering upon the ends of the inserted strands,said covering comprising elongated strips separate yfrom said piece ofmaterial, said applying means comprising means for advancing said stripsin the direction of movement of the material adjacent said oppositeedges thereof, means for folding the advancing strips over said oppositelateral edges, and means for securing the folded strips to said oppositelateral edges.

2. The apparatus dened in claim 1 wherein said folding means compriseselongated guides adjacent the opposite edges of said material havingentrant ends to receive said strips, said guides extending from theirentrant ends in the direction of movement of said material toward theirexit ends, said exit ends being U-shaped to closely confine saidopposite lateral edges of said material and to fold said strips oversaid opposite lateral edges during the advance of said material and ofsaid strips along said path.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein said guides are each formedwith angularly related, connected flanges folded closely toward oneanother at said exit end to define the aforesaid U-shape and graduallyflaring apart toward said entrant end.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein said flanges extend at anangle of approximately to each other at said entrant end.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein the means for advancingsaid strips comprises rollers overlying the opposite lateral edges ofsaid material beyond the exit ends of said guides in bearing engagementwith the strips folded over said opposite lateral edges.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein the means for securing saidstrips to said opposite lateral edges of said material is locatedbetween said rollers and said guides.

7. Apparatus for making a strand-reinforced piece `of fabric materialhaving protective strips on opposite edges thereof to cover the ends ofthe strands, comprising means for intermittently advancing the fabricalong a predetermined path, means for inserting reinforcing strands intothe fabric in a direction transversely of said path between intermittentadvances thereof, means spaced from said strand-inserting means in thedirection of movement of the fabric for advancing protective stripsalong the opposite lateral edges of and in synchronism with the fabric,means for fold-ing said protective strips over the opposite lateraledges of 'the fabric to cover the ends of the inserted strands, andmeans for securing the folded protective strips to said opposite lateraledges.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7, wherein said folding meanscomprises elongated guides adjacent the opposite edges of the fabrichaving entrant ends to receive said strips, said guides extending fromtheir entrant ends in the direction of movement of the fabric towardtheir exit ends, said guides being formed with angularly related,connected flanges folded closely together at said exit end to define aU-shape closely confining the opposite lateral edges of the fabric andfolding said strips over said opposite lateral edges during the advanceof the fabric and of said strips along said path, said flanges graduallyflaring apart toward said entrant end.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein said flanges extend at 180to each other at said entrant end.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 9, wherein means are provided forapplying adhesive to said strips before they enter said guides, andmeans operated during the intervals between intermittent advances of thefabric are provided for securing the folded strips to said oppositelateral edges at longitudinally spaced points.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 9, wherein means, operated by and insynchronism with the means for advancing the fabric are provided forsecuring the folded strips to said opposite lateral edges.

12. The apparatus defined in claim 9, wherein means are provided forsevering said strips after they have been folded over and secured tosaid opposite lateral edges.

13. Apparatus for making a strand-reinforced piece of material having aprotective covering over the ends of the strands, comprising means forconveying a piece of material along a predetermined path, means at apoint along said path for inserting reinforcing strands into the pieceof material in a direction transversely of said path, means spaced fromsaid strand inserting means in the direction of movement of the materialfor applying protective covering upon the ends of the inserted strands,said covering comprising elongated strips and said applying meanscomprising means for folding said strips over the opposite lateral edgesof said material.

14. Apparatus for making a strand-reinforced piece of material having aprotective covering over the ends of the strands at least along one edgeof the piece of material, comprising means for conveying the piece ofmaterial along a predetermined path, means at a pointl along said pathfor applying reinforcing strands `to the piece of material, and meansspaced from said strand applying means in the direction of movement ofthe piece of material for applying a protective covering along said oneedge of the piece of material upon the ends ofthe strands.

15. The apparatus defined in claim 14, wherein said covering comprisesan elongated strip and said cover applying means comprises means forfolding said strip over said one edge of the piece of material.

16. Apparatus for making a strand reinforced piece of material havingprotective strips along opposite edges thereof covering the ends of thestrands, comprising means for intermittently advancing the piece ofmaterial along a predetermined path, means for inserting reinforcingstrands into the piece of material in a direction transversely of saidpath between intermittent advaneesthereof, and means spaced from saidstrand inserting means in the direction of movement of the piece ofmaterial for applying protective strips along the opposite lateral edgesof the piece of material to cover the ends of the inserted strandsduring the advances of the piece of material.

17. Apparatus for making a strand-reinforced piece of fabric having aprotective covering along one edge thereof applied over the ends of thestrands, said apparatus comprising means for conveying the fabric alonga predetermined path, means at a point along said path for applying thereinforcing strands to said fabric in spaced, generally parallelrelation to one another and extending transversely of said path, andmeans spaced from said strand-applying means in ithe direction ofmovement of said fabric for applying the covering along said one edge ofthe fabric over the ends of the strands.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,749,118 3/1930Wechsler ll2-l37 2,282,200 5/1942 Neuman 112--252 X 2,362,462 ll/l944Belcher et al. 112-11 X 2,630,772 3/1953 Ederer lll-2 2,797,656 7/l957Reid l12-2 3,010,489 1l/196l Lenart et al. 140-3 3,070,135 12/1962Thompson et al. 140-24 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR MAKING A STRAND-REINFORCED PIECE OF MATERIAL HAVING APROTECTIVE COVERING OVER THE ENDS OF THE STRANDS, COMPRISING MEANS FORCONVEYING A PIECE OF MATERIAL ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH, MEANS AT APOINT ALONG SAID PATH FOR INSERTING REINFORCING STRANDS INTO THE PIECEOF MATERIAL IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSELY OF SAID PATH, MEANS SPACED FROMSAID STRAND INSERTING MEANS IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE MATERIALFOR APPLYING PROTECTIVE COVERING UPON THE ENDS OF THE INSERTED STRANDS,SAID COVERING COMPRISING ELONGATED STRIPS SEPARATE FROM SAID PIECE OFMATERIAL, SAID APPLYING MEANS COMPRISING MEANS FOR ADVANCING SAID STRIPSIN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE MATERIAL ADJACENT SAID OPPOSITEEDGES THEREOF, MEANS FOR FOLDING THE ADVANCING STRIPS OVER SAID OPPOSITELATERAL EDGES, AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE FOLDED STRIPS TO SAID OPPOSITELATERAL EDGES.